AMBRIDGE, March 27 – A new $210,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will allow Beaver County residents and small businesses to reap the benefits of high-tech, compressed natural gas-powered vehicles, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said the grant awarded to Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc., will allow the company to purchase seven compressed natural gas waste vehicles to serve the county. “This is exciting news,” Matzie said. “Compressed natural gas vehicles require less fuel and maintenance, produce much lower emissions, and operate more quietly. All of that means savings for taxpayers, cleaner air in our neighborhoods and reduced noise for residents. I’m looking forward to seeing our communities reap the benefits of the new technology.” Compressed natural gas vehicles operate similarly to traditional gas-powered vehicles, but natural gas is stored in a fuel tank or cylinder, generally located at the back of the vehicle. It is estimated that they are 80% to 90% quieter than diesel trucks and produce up to 90% fewer emissions. The funding was awarded through the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program. More information about the program is available here: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/grants-loans-rebates/alternative-fuels-incentive-grant . Read more

AMBRIDGE, March 27 – State grant funding of $225,000 will deliver new resources to bolster projects, public works and police services in Beaver County, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said five separate grants approved through the state Department of Community and Economic development will help municipalities keep projects and operations running more smoothly. “The new grants will allow municipalities and departments in our district to address practical needs – replacement vehicles and equipment to keep services flowing, project funding for safer play spaces and planning resources to invite new economic development,” Matzie said. “It all adds up to improved quality of life. I’ll continue advocating and working with our state agencies and local partners to bring more of those dollars home to benefit residents.” Matzie said the funding includes: $75,000 to the city of Aliquippa to purchase public works equipment. $50,000 to Hopewell Township for playground upgrades and renovations. $50,000 to the Rochester Police Department for a new vehicle. $25,000 to the Center Township Police Department for new equipment. $25,000 to Monaca for planning initiatives for economic development. More information about DCED programs and funding is available here: https://dced.pa.gov/programs-funding Read more

HARRISBURG, March 25 – The Pennsylvania House today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, to improve rail safety for both workers and the communities trains pass through. “It’s been three years since the catastrophe in East Palestine. We can’t sit around and wait for that to happen again,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “I am glad the House took action to prevent the next rail disaster and make our communities and families safer by passing this bill. H.B. 1191 is a way we can start to reduce derailments and protect workers, first responders and community residents.” Matzie introduced H.B. 1191 to improve public safety at railroad crossings. The bill comes after a February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which released toxic chemicals, causing widespread environmental and health concerns. This bill would: Prohibit trains from blocking crossings, which could delay emergency responders. This can ensure faster response times. Limit the length of freight or work trains to 8,500 feet, or approximately 1.6 miles. Require safe staffing levels for trains or light engines, including a minimum of a two-person crew on a train or light engine. Authorize a union representative to monitor safety practices and operations of a railroad, which would allow a representative to take Read more

HARRISBURG, March 24 – With the commonwealth seeing a sharp rise in data center development, the Pennsylvania House today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie that would ensure the centers’ massive energy demands do not drive up Pennsylvanians’ electricity bills. Matzie, who is chair of the House Majority Caucus, said he introduced H.B. 1834 so the state can get the right regulatory framework in place now, as proposals for new data centers continue to mount. “Normally, if an electric company adds poles and wires or equipment, we all share in the costs. That’s because it’s making the delivery system better for all of us,” Matzie said. “That’s not the case with data centers. No one’s electric bill should ever go up because a data center has located in Pennsylvania, but we need to plan ahead to make sure that doesn’t happen. “It’s possible to protect ratepayers while still allowing the commonwealth to reap the tremendous economic benefits data centers can bring. Those goals are not mutually exclusive – as long as we get the right regulatory framework in place. My bill would do that.” Matzie said his bill would: Make sure that all costs incurred by data centers to get their electricity is paid for by them – not households and small businesses. Require data centers to contribute to universal service programs and supplement Read more

HARRISBURG, March 24 – The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association should update its policies to better protect student athletes participating in competitions, according to the newly released findings of a legislative study requested by state Rep. Rob Matzie. Matzie, who is chair of the House Majority Caucus and the longest-serving member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee, called on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct the study based on concerns that PIAA’s system of classifying schools for competition puts student athletes at risk by forcing them to compete against wealthier schools with bigger budgets and larger rosters. “The study’s findings and recommendations demonstrate the need for updated PIAA policies relative to how transfers are monitored and adjudicated, where and how certain private, charter, and co-op schools get their student athletes, and how championship sites are determined,” Matzie said. “This vindicates the questions I’ve raised over the past several years, especially in regard to the treatment of the Aliquippa School District.” Matzie said the report recommends that PIAA: establish a statewide body to independently record, monitor and adjudicate student-athlete transfers among member schools. revise its policy for feeder schools, which pipeline Read more

AMBRIDGE, Feb. 23 – State Rep. Rob Matzie today praised the Pennsylvania Utility Commission’s decision to review its rail safety regulations, saying the commission will consider some of the same safety measures in Matzie’s own rail safety bill that passed the House. The PUC’s action on Friday granting a motion for proposed rulemaking , offered by Commissioner Kathryn Zerfuss, mirrors Matzie’s call for stronger state regulation of rail safety, a move he says is needed in the absence of better federal oversight. “I applaud Commissioner Zerfuss and the PUC for taking the reins on rail safety, and I’m glad the commission plans to focus on some of the same reporting, oversight and equipment issues I call for in my rail safety legislation,” said Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus. “With thousands of miles of rail running through our region and federal regulations falling short, time is of the essence. We can’t afford to wait for another East Palestine.” Matzie said that PUC’s experts will review rail safety regulations with respect to five areas, including the proper functioning of wayside detectors – trackside sensors that warn when train cars are overheating because of problems that can cause derailment. That equipment is one focus of Matzie’s H.B. 1191 , which was adopted by the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Read more

AMBRIDGE, Feb. 19 – State Rep. Rob Matzie issued the following statement regarding yesterday’s vote by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association board to reclassify the Aliquippa High School football program: “I’ve just been informed that the PIAA Board has voted to move Aliquippa Football to Class 3A for the next two years. “While the specifics of the determination haven’t been released, I’m pleased the board made the right decision after several attempts pleading the case. “I have shared the opinion of the Aliquippa School District that decisions related to the competitive balance formula should use actual enrollment and view each transfer on a case-by-case basis rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. “The study that I requested the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to perform of the PIAA and its competitive balance formula is expected to be released this spring. “I will always stand up for kids in my district and students all across Pennsylvania. The results of this ruling have always been about fairness and the health and safety of the kids.” Read more

AMBRIDGE, Feb. 17 – Fire and EMS companies in the 16 th Legislative District are on track to receive more than $265,200 in grant funding to help keep crews properly equipped and meet other department needs, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today. Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said departments will be able to use the funds for items such as personal protective gear, firefighting equipment, fuel, facility repairs, training, recruitment and retention, and other needs. “Our fire and EMS departments face a constant challenge keeping crews outfitted and trained, equipment updated, and facilities maintained – all on the tightest budgets,” Matzie said. “The new funding should help ease some of those costs and get more resources into the hands of those who work 24/7 to protect us.” Matzie said the funding includes: Ambridge Borough Fire Department – $13,457. Ambridge Volunteer Fire Department – $14,488. Baden Volunteer Fire Department – $16,137. Center Township Fire House No. 2 – $13,251. Center Township Volunteer Fire Department Co. No. 1 – $14,900. Center Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 3 – $12,426. City of Aliquippa DBA Aliquippa Bureau of Fire – $14,488. Conway Volunteer Fire Department – $14,488. Economy Vol. Ambulance Service – $15,000. Economy Volunteer Firemens Association Read more

powerhouse,” Matzie said. “I’m grateful for this new state investment, which will directly benefit our students, workers, and taxpayers.” Read more

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Pennsylvania Nuclear Energy Caucus Co-Chairs Rob Matzie and Tom Mehaffie today hailed the state House’s passage of legislation that would clear the way for the construction of the nuclear industry’s small modular reactors and microreactors to help meet growing demands on Pennsylvania’s energy grid. The lawmakers said H.B. 2017 , introduced by state Rep. Jose Giral, D- Phila., would pave the way for SMRs and microreactors by authorizing a change in fees that have posed an obstacle to construction of these smaller nuclear reactors. “Having an ‘all-everything’ energy strategy strengthens our position as an energy powerhouse and helps us meet the increasing demand coming from cloud computing and AI,” said Matzie, D-Beaver, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus as well as a co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Nuclear Energy Caucus. “Nuclear is an important part of that strategy, and one that would bring new jobs, but the construction costs can be prohibitive. Small, modular reactors, which require less time and money to build, are an excellent solution, but the fees these reactors must pay the state to operate – which were developed with large, traditional reactors in mind – have proven to be an insurmountable obstacle. The new legislation would adjust the fees to remove those barriers.” Mehaffie, R-Dauphin, said SMRs can help the state address an Read more